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Quick description of Alta?

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callmeteo
Posts: 367 - Karma: 321
Considering heading over for winter break towards the end of December, but I know nothing about it. Could anyone help me make sense of the place? I've seen the edits of huge cliffs and pow shots but how much of the resort is that?

Any help is appreciated, +k
Nov 23 2014 12:54PM
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callmeteo
Posts: 367 - Karma: 321
Oh and I forgot to mention Snowbird. Are they affiliated or something?
Nov 23 2014 12:58PM
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firecrotch
Posts: 1471 - Karma: 5,507
flat
Nov 23 2014 1:36PM
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firecrotch
Posts: 1471 - Karma: 5,507
but for real, there is some amazing terrain at alta, you will just have to work for it more. the bird has more easily accessible cliffs and steeps, and more of them, but it is also more crowded. both will be absolutely packed on powder days, so if you are looking for lots of freshies, head over to big cottonwood canyon and hit up brighton or solitude
Nov 23 2014 1:38PM
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@LANTASKI
Posts: 599 - Karma: 1,586
The Spirit of Skiing Lives in Alta. That's all you need to know.
Nov 23 2014 1:40PM
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first_rodeo
Posts: 2385 - Karma: 7,781
best lift accessible terrain.
anyone know how to get to chads from the parking lot?
Nov 23 2014 1:44PM
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_anderson_
Posts: 164 - Karma: 1,783
no snowboarders
Nov 23 2014 1:47PM
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ghosthop
Posts: 631 - Karma: 1,027
And also a gamble with snow conditions and terrain that will be open over christmas break.
Nov 23 2014 2:16PM
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californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
first_rodeobest lift accessible terrain.


...in utah.
Nov 23 2014 2:36PM
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lIllI
Posts: 1255 - Karma: 1,986
mlzmlz99flat


a.k.a most of the Wasatch
Nov 23 2014 2:41PM
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BrownBomber
Posts: 675 - Karma: 446
Alta is hands down the best resort in the country. Its got the best steep lines and a plethora of nasty cliffs. If Dont bother with snowbird, the vibe is all wrong and powder doesn't last 10 minutes past first chair. Unfortunetly, Alta has its crowded weekend pow days aswell, thats why its also a clutch move to have Brighton in your arsenal. You'll find more cliffs at B town, but less steep pitches.

People can say all they want about flat, crowded, shitty vibe'd colorado resorts, but if your not taking your ski vacations at Alta, your doing it wrong. OP, ill see you christmas break.
Nov 23 2014 5:11PM
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californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
BrownBomberAlta is hands down the best resort in the country. Its got the best steep lines and a plethora of nasty cliffs.


The argument can be made that its the best inbounds, sure. Hands down...Not even close lol.
Nov 23 2014 5:15PM
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lIllI
Posts: 1255 - Karma: 1,986
californiagrownThe argument can be made that its the best inbounds, sure. Hands down...Not even close lol.


It can't even be made for inbounds. Alta is great but compared to Jackson Hole, Mt. Baker, and Stevens Pass it doesn't offer much in terms of steeps.
Nov 23 2014 5:31PM
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@LANTASKI
Posts: 599 - Karma: 1,586
LOL Jackson Hole is so played out. J-Hole is for affluent gaper tourists from the South
Nov 23 2014 5:37PM
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@LANTASKI
Posts: 599 - Karma: 1,586
BrownBomberAlta is hands down the best resort in the country. Its got the best steep lines and a plethora of nasty cliffs. If Dont bother with snowbird, the vibe is all wrong and powder doesn't last 10 minutes past first chair. Unfortunetly, Alta has its crowded weekend pow days aswell, thats why its also a clutch move to have Brighton in your arsenal. You'll find more cliffs at B town, but less steep pitches.

People can say all they want about flat, crowded, shitty vibe'd colorado resorts, but if your not taking your ski vacations at Alta, your doing it wrong. OP, ill see you christmas break.


THIS
Nov 23 2014 5:37PM
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duhbige
Posts: 34 - Karma: 673
IMO alta is a lot better than snowbird. The terrain is a little more steep and it seems like there's a lot more natural features at alta than the bird. Also no snowboarders so maybe a little less crowed
Nov 23 2014 6:00PM
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Powstagram
Posts: 250 - Karma: 2,562
Make sure you know how to get to Chad's from the bottom of Alta, it's crucial
Nov 23 2014 6:00PM
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s-hand
Posts: 1334 - Karma: 1,800
BrownBomberIf Dont bother with snowbird, the vibe is all wrong


Yes! I feel this too whenever I am there. Not much of a fan, but to each his own i guess.
Nov 23 2014 6:03PM
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grifrowl
Posts: 200 - Karma: 471
Next level semi-natural jumps and awesome bowls you'll have to climb to get to. The whole "better vibe" thing is overplayed: You'll encounter just as many angry locals and clueless tourists there as at Snowbird in recent years. Great resort, tons of terrain, a super fun time, but most of these posts are overselling it a bit.
Nov 23 2014 6:12PM
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callmeteo
Posts: 367 - Karma: 321
californiagrown...in utah.


Would you say there's anything in Colorado that competes with it?
Nov 23 2014 6:14PM
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belden...
Posts: 2914 - Karma: 1,274
I love Alta and Snowbird both, learned to ski there as a baby. Basically for me the difference is you have to earn your turns at Alta a lot more than at snowbird. Anyone who's saying "the vibes at snowbird are bad" has never stood in the tram line at 7 A.M. waiting for first tram after a couple feet dropped the night before. Everyone is stoked and the "vibe" couldn't be more on point.

Just as well if you think all of snowbird gets skied up in 10 minutes you have no fucking idea where to ski. The only reason snowbird gets skied up faster than Alta is because Alta patrol men have a lot more exposed bowls that they have to bomb as well as hike to in order to work by hand to make safe, which in turn takes a lot of fucking time. It has nothing to do with skiers or crowds or the lack of snowboarders. Ive seen devils castle, ballroom pretty much all of it get completely shredded in minutes as soon as they drop the ropes.
Nov 23 2014 6:37PM
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FreedGucci
Posts: 454 - Karma: 3,192
@LANTASKILOL Jackson Hole is so played out. J-Hole is for affluent gaper tourists from the South


Lol what so since there's gaper tourists the resort is shit? There's gapers everywhere now it's just how it is unfortunately
Nov 23 2014 7:29PM
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RJD2
Posts: 3532 - Karma: 921


Nov 23 2014 7:50PM
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histonskiah
Posts: 467 - Karma: 1,834
I've only skied Alta 3 times because I'm from MN but it has the best vibe out of anywhere I know and the best snow even if it hasnt snowed there in a while.
Nov 23 2014 7:58PM
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lIllI
Posts: 1255 - Karma: 1,986
@LANTASKILOL Jackson Hole is so played out. J-Hole is for affluent gaper tourists from the South


I thought we were talking about skiing quality, not whether or not something is "played out." Even then, all the gapers stick to the easy runs anyway, so even if that wasn't a completely irrelevant observation it still would hold no water as an argument.

callmeteoWould you say there's anything in Colorado that competes with it?


The only thing Colorado "steeps" competes with is the east coast, hence all the hype, because most of its proponents don't know any better or they ski park.
Nov 23 2014 7:59PM
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powerbong2000
Posts: 737 - Karma: 1,802
It's really cool if you are a 50 year old on 210's.

j/k it's cool.

j/k it sucks, skating around everywhere.

j/k it's cool cuz no snowboarders

j/k it sucks cuz no snowboarders
Nov 23 2014 8:01PM
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GayWolf420
Posts: 37390 - Karma: 120,126
Its one of the first resorts in america, so it has a cool historic feel to it, and it most certainly has the goods. Definitely one of the best places to rip in utah. Little cottonwood canyon is the fucking shit in general. Snowbird and Alta both are great places.
Nov 23 2014 8:03PM
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Eastcoastjibber
Posts: 376 - Karma: 1,692
Februany from Sander Hadley on Vimeo.
Nov 23 2014 8:13PM
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californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
callmeteoWould you say there's anything in Colorado that competes with it?


In terms of rowdy terrain accesible by lift? CB and Silverton. Youre right though, i think Alta is better than both. I was speaking more towards the "classic" sierra, northern rockies, canadian rockies, and coast range resorts. All of whom compete with, and many would say are far better than Alta.

lIllIThe only thing Colorado "steeps" competes with is the east coast, hence all the hype, because most of its proponents don't know any better or they ski park.


You need to stop. You claimed Stevens and Baker have in bounds terrain as quality as Alta. Not. Even. Close.

do you know that there are places to ski outside of Summit County not named Steamboat or Aspen?
Nov 23 2014 8:31PM
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FreedGucci
Posts: 454 - Karma: 3,192
do you know that there are places to ski outside of Summit County not named Steamboat or Aspen?[/QUOTE]
Telluride anyone?
Nov 23 2014 8:35PM
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lIllI
Posts: 1255 - Karma: 1,986
californiagrownYou need to stop. You claimed Stevens and Baker have in bounds terrain as quality as Alta. Not. Even. Close.


Maybe it's just me, but I prefer steep pillow lines in the trees over big open bowls with rocks everywhere.
Nov 23 2014 8:44PM
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KingTaco
Posts: 2510 - Karma: 2,829
Funny, I was actually telling a friend today how sick Alta is. I went two seasons ago and it was absolutely sick. If one area happens to be shitty you can still find an area where the snow is nice and soft and fresh. Tons of sick natural hits and cliffs and steeps. All around sick vibes. Favorite mountain ive ever skied. Enjoy
Nov 23 2014 9:28PM
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PeppermillReno
Posts: 4803 - Karma: -651
Alta is always a good call for Christmas time since Utah is the safest best to have enough snow for a fully open mountain by then.


If you don't mind a bit of traversing the lift accessed terrain is as good as anywhere and its long steep runs too. No snowboarders and the layout make it better than snowbird and the snow keeps better too.
Nov 23 2014 10:14PM
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skier58284
Posts: 1705 - Karma: 5,365
Steep, gnarly, lots of pow.

Snowbird and Alta are under separate ownership but there are combined passes and there is a way to ski from one to the other, though that is not always open.

I like Snowbird more than Alta. More cliffs and chutes. Both are very awesome ski areas, definitely two of my favourites.
Nov 23 2014 10:29PM
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skier58284
Posts: 1705 - Karma: 5,365
callmeteoWould you say there's anything in Colorado that competes with it?


The only places in Colorado that may be able to compete are Crested Butte and Silverton but I haven't been to either so I'm not positive. Definitely nowhere else in Colorado.
Nov 23 2014 10:32PM
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KingTaco
Posts: 2510 - Karma: 2,829
^ it would be nice if whoever downvoted this could weigh in with their correct opinion
Nov 25 2014 12:23AM
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bob_dole
Posts: 4078 - Karma: 1,580
Sh4dowThe only places in Colorado that may be able to compete are Crested Butte and Silverton but I haven't been to either so I'm not positive. Definitely nowhere else in Colorado.


KingTaco^ it would be nice if whoever downvoted this could weigh in with their correct opinion


Telluride. It's epic. Probably my favorite ski town, and they have some REAL DEAL steep skiing. Alta is still awesome though, you can't go wrong with it.
Nov 25 2014 12:59AM
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BigPurpleSkiSuit
Posts: 9352 - Karma: 68,305
firecrotchbut for real, there is some amazing terrain at alta, you will just have to work for it more. the bird has more easily accessible cliffs and steeps, and more of them, but it is also more crowded. both will be absolutely packed on powder days, so if you are looking for lots of freshies, head over to big cottonwood canyon and hit up brighton or solitude


RIP
Mar 19 2021 6:03PM
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firecrotch
Posts: 1471 - Karma: 5,507
BigPurpleSkiSuitRIP

Rip which part? How’d you find this haha
Mar 19 2021 9:55PM
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BigPurpleSkiSuit
Posts: 9352 - Karma: 68,305
firecrotchRip which part? How’d you find this haha


big cottonwood being less crowded. Sometimes when I'm bored I google random page numbers on the newschoolers ski gabber or non ski gabber boards.
Mar 19 2021 10:26PM
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